The ECOSPHEREWINES consortium meeting and the 1st International Conference ‘Historic Vineyard Landscapes’, held in the Zamora town of Fermoselle from 25 to 28 June, marked a milestone in transnational collaboration to preserve vineyard landscapes and promote sustainable, innovative and resilient viticulture in the face of climate change.
The consortium meeting of the INTERREG SUDOE ECOSPHEREWINES project was held on 25, 26 and 27 June. During these days, progress in the areas of management and communication was reviewed and working sessions were held for the evaluation of progress in the ongoing pilots, as well as the preparation of the Strategy and Action Plan for the implementation of green infrastructure. The meetings were complemented by a technical visit to the experimental areas of the project, located in Fermoselle and Villarino de los Aires (Salamanca), and to the historical wineries of Fermoselle. Attendees were also able to learn first-hand, through a commented tasting, about the work of the Agricultural Technology Institute of Castilla y León (ITACYL) and local wineries such as Bodegas Pascual Fernández in the recovery and enhancement of minority microvarieties, a key genetic heritage for the sustainability and wine identity of Arribes. These spaces for exchange strengthened coordination between partners and favoured the development of innovative solutions for the conservation of wine-growing landscapes and adaptation to climate change.
In parallel, from 26 to 28 June, the 1st International Conference ‘Historic Landscapes of the Vineyard’ was held, a forum for reflection and dissemination that brought together professionals from the wine sector, researchers, specialised journalists and institutional representatives. The event began with an official reception at the Doña Urraca Castle and continued with the presentation of the ECOSPHEREWINES project, a technical visit to the experimental areas of the project and various presentations and round tables on the wine-growing landscapes of Douro, Ribeira Sacra, Betanzos, Arribes del Duero, Valdeorras, El Bierzo and Cebreros. Experts such as the journalist Javier Pérez Andrés, the professor Eugenio Baraja and other representatives from the academic, technical and oenological fields addressed issues such as geographical characterisation, the communication of wine heritage and the role of the designations of origin in the valorisation of terraced vineyards. The programme also included a live broadcast of ‘El Picaporte’ on EsRadio Castilla y León, dedicated exclusively to the conference.
The event concluded on Saturday 28th in the afternoon with the Wine Festival of Historic Vineyard Landscapes, held at Doña Urraca Castle. Open to the public, the festival offered an opportunity to bring the values, challenges and flavours associated with these wine-growing landscapes to the general public, and especially to the inhabitants of the region. The activity included tastings of wines from different regions, with the participation of wineries from the territories taking part in the technical conferences.
The consortium meeting and the international conference were an important step in the consolidation of the ECOSPHEREWINES project, reaffirming the commitment of all the entities involved to sustainability, innovation and the protection of the wine-growing heritage of southwest Europe.
